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United States Patent |
5,542,121
|
Lahaussois
,   et al.
|
August 6, 1996
|
Dispensable, disposable reversible forearm protector
Abstract
A dispensable, disposable reversible forearm protector is made up from
continuous webs of composite material. Each of two laminated webs,
comprised of a layer of soft, absorbent paper toweling or the like and a
moisture impermeable layer of thermoplastic or similar material, is
arranged face-to-face with the other and joined by heat sealing or other
means along generally transverse strip-like bonding areas of the web to
form rectangular or trapezoidal segments of the web. Lines of weakness
running along the strip-like bonding areas allow successive segments to be
detached from the web. Each segment forms a flat, tubular element, which
is expandable to circular form so as to receive the hand and forearm of a
user. Preferably, the bonding areas are angled so that the individual
segments are of trapezoidal shape, providing a tapered tubular
configuration for better conformance with the contours of the forearm. The
device may be easily turned inside-out, so that the respective layers of
absorbent material and moisture impermeable material may be placed on the
inside or the outside as desired. The device is economical to produce and
convenient to use and dispose of.
Inventors:
|
Lahaussois; Pierre (Darien, CT);
Strohl; Margaret T. (New Hope, PA)
|
Assignee:
|
Dale Strohl (Ridgefield, CT)
|
Appl. No.:
|
269149 |
Filed:
|
June 30, 1994 |
Current U.S. Class: |
2/59; 2/16 |
Intern'l Class: |
A41D 013/08; A41D 027/12 |
Field of Search: |
2/16,59,60,170,158,61,125,159
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
18343 | May., 1888 | O'Brien | 2/59.
|
1360840 | Nov., 1920 | White.
| |
2058040 | Oct., 1936 | Severn | 2/59.
|
2832074 | Apr., 1958 | Wheeler | 2/16.
|
3189919 | Jun., 1965 | Chase | 2/16.
|
3657741 | Apr., 1972 | Blanco | 2/59.
|
3916447 | Nov., 1975 | Thompson | 2/46.
|
4014046 | Mar., 1977 | Craig | 2/60.
|
4504978 | Mar., 1985 | Gregory, Jr. et al. | 2/59.
|
4677697 | Jul., 1987 | Hayes | 2/159.
|
4856112 | Aug., 1989 | Effle | 2/59.
|
4893372 | Jan., 1990 | Wenzel | 2/16.
|
4916757 | Apr., 1990 | Berlin et al. | 2/159.
|
4928322 | May., 1990 | Bradfield | 2/158.
|
4964176 | Oct., 1990 | Previdi | 2/46.
|
5063919 | Nov., 1991 | Silverberg | 2/16.
|
5187813 | Feb., 1993 | Klein | 2/59.
|
5392786 | Feb., 1995 | Lewis et al. | 2/59.
|
5402536 | Apr., 1995 | Matthews | 2/59.
|
Foreign Patent Documents |
128715 | Jan., 1929 | CH | 2/59.
|
Primary Examiner: Vanatta; Amy B.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Schweitzer, Cornman & Gross
Claims
We claim:
1. A dispensable, disposable and reversible forearm protector, which
comprises
(a) an opposed pair of first sheet-like elements of trapezoidal
configuration having parallel end edges and convergent side edges whereby
one of said end edges is of smaller dimensions than the other,
(b) said first sheet-like elements being formed of liquid impervious
thermoplastic material and being sealed together along narrow margins of
said convergent side edges and being separable in all areas except said
narrow margins,
(c) a pair of second sheet-like elements of identical trapezoidal
configuration to said first sheet-like elements and bonded to outer
surfaces of said first sheet-like elements in directly overlying relation
thereto,
(d) said second sheet-like elements being formed of an absorbent paper
material,
(e) said bonded sheet-like elements forming a tapered tubular structure,
open at both ends, for receiving a hand, wrist and forearm of a user, with
the hand exposed, and having respective smaller and larger openings at
opposite ends,
(f) a marginal portion of said tubular structure at the end with said
smaller opening being positioned on said wrist with the end edge of
smaller dimensions facing away from the hand,
(g) an elastic means urging said marginal portion snugly against said wrist
at a distance from said end edge of smaller dimensions, and
(h) portions of said tubular structure extending from said marginal portion
to the end with said larger opening being folded over at said elastic
means and extending along the wrist and forearm of the wearer, whereby an
exterior of said protector comprises said sheets of thermoplastic
material, and an interior of said protector comprises said sheets of
absorbent material.
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There is a need in certain areas of endeavor for the use of a protective
covering for the forearm. Such a device is usefully employed by, for
example, artists, craftsmen, cooks and other food processors, medical
personnel and the like, who handle liquid or semi-liquid materials. There
are examples in the prior art of devices useful for this purpose. However,
insofar as we are aware, all of the prior art devices suffer from certain
shortcomings, either in the area of performance, high cost, difficulty or
inconvenience of use, or combinations of one or more of the foregoing.
Pursuant to the invention, a simple, highly effective, reversible forearm
cover device is provided, which is inexpensive to produce, conveniently
dispensed and utilized, and easily disposed of. In a preferred embodiment
of the invention, a protective web material is formed of a composite
laminate comprised of a plastic film on one side and paper toweling on the
other. Two such composite webs are arranged face-to-face, with the plastic
film layers on the inside, and the composite web laminates are joined
together along spaced-apart, strip-like bonding areas by heat sealing or
otherwise. The strip-like bonding areas extend along generally transverse
lines to form successive sections of flat tubular form. Lines of weakness
extend transversely along the bonding areas, to enable successive flat
tubular sections to be torn free of an otherwise continuous supply of the
web material. Preferably, individual tubular sections of the material are
formed of trapezoidal configuration, narrower at one end than the other,
to conform better to typical forearm contours. Where desired, elastic or
expandable bands may be provided separately, for securing the forearm
protectors snugly to the wearer during use.
The device of the invention may be easily dispensed in continuous roll
form, or from a box. If desired, the protector devices may be pre-cut and
dispensed individually.
For a more complete understanding of the above and other features and
advantages of the invention, reference should be made to the following
detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention and to the
accompanying drawings.
IN THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a representative view of a forearm protector according to the
invention as applied over a user's forearm.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a roll supply of forearm protectors
according to the invention.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view as taken generally on line 3--3
of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a further enlargement of a section of FIG. 3 illustrating the
laminated construction of a preferred material used in the invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective illustration of the device of the invention
employed with a box style of dispenser.
FIGS. 6-8 are a sequence of views illustrating the manner in which the
forearm protector of the invention is applied in a reverse or inside-out
orientation.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawing, and initially to FIGS. 1-4, the reference
numeral 10 designates generally a forearm protector according to the
invention, which preferably is in the form of a tapered, tubular sleeve
open at each end 11, 12 and adapted to be received over the hand and
forearm of the user. To advantage, the tubular sleeve 10 is formed of a
laminated material, with a thin layer of moisture impermeable plastic
(preferably thermoplastic) film 13 on the inside and a layer of absorbent
paper toweling or similar material 14 on the outside. The laminated
material desirably is produced in the form of continuous webs 15, 16.
As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of continuous webs 15, 16 is arranged in
superposed relation, with the respective thermoplastic webs in
face-to-face contact. The respective webs 15, 16 are then joined together
from one side edge 17 to the other side edge 18 along narrow, generally
transverse strip-like bonding areas 19. Typically, the joining is
accomplished by heat sealing techniques, although suitable adhesive or
solvent bonding, for example, could also be employed. Desirably,
successive bonding areas 19 along the length of the web material are
oriented at opposite shallow angles with respect to a transverse axis,
such that each section 20, between successive sealing areas 19, is in the
form of a trapezoid.
In the illustration of FIG. 2, the composite web material is supplied in a
continuous roll form, and lines of weakness 21, such as lines of
perforation, score lines or the like, are provided more or less centrally
within the bonding areas 19, to allow individual segments 20 to be torn
away from the roll supply, much the same as individual paper towels are
torn away from their supply rolls.
Preferably, the individual composite webs 15, 16 are formed by laminating
the respective webs of absorbent toweling and plastic film over their full
surfaces. However, where preferred, the webs may be bonded together in
limited areas, possibly only at the edge bands 19.
The product of FIG. 2 is utilized by tearing off the endmost segment 20 and
opening the tubular section formed thereby to the configuration of a
tapered open tube of generally circular cross section. The hand of the
user is inserted into the larger end of the tapered tube and passed
entirely through the tube until the sleeve is positioned on the user's
forearm as shown in FIG. 1. Typically, the spacing between successive
bonding areas 19 is such that the tapered sleeve formed thereby is large
enough to fit over a relatively large forearm. Accordingly, the supply of
protective sleeves may include elastic or expandable bands 22, one or more
of which can be slipped over the protective sleeve to hold it in position
on the user's forearm.
In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 5, a continuous web-form supply
of detachable sleeve sections 20 is supplied in a dispensing box 23,
instead of a continuous roll 24 as in FIG. 2. In general, however, the
utilization is the same as with the roll supply of FIG. 2, in that
individual sections 20 are torn off of the web supply along predefined
lines of weakness 21 formed in the strip-like bonding areas 19.
Where desired, the individual sleeve sections 20 may be precut from the web
supply and furnished in a dispenser box 23, much in the manner of
box-dispensed facial tissues, for example.
The reversible protective sleeve device of the invention is useful to great
advantage by individuals dealing with liquid or semi-liquid materials.
Where there is frequent need to wipe the hands and/or utensils with a
minimum interruption in the ongoing work, the absorbent paper layer
provides a convenient medium. By way of example, excessive liquid can be
removed from a small paintbrush by simply wiping it across a forearm
protected with one of the protecting sleeves. The liquid material is
readily absorbed by the outer surface of paper toweling, while the plastic
liner prevents penetration to the inside of the sleeve.
For certain tasks, such as pottery throwing, certain cooking operations,
etc., it may be unnecessary, or perhaps even undesirable to provide for
liquid absorption on the exterior of the protective sleeve. In such cases,
the sleeve can be utilized in a reverse orientation, as shown in FIGS.
6-8. For this manner of use, the sleeve protector, in its normal, paper
outside orientation, is applied over the forearm small end first, which is
opposite to the normal application. An elastic or expandable band 22 is
applied over the sleeve end 12, substantially as shown in FIG. 7, causing
the end of the sleeve protector to be lightly gripped about the wrist or
the outer forearm of the user. Next, the large diameter (outer) end of the
sleeve protector is gripped and drawn over the forearm, in the manner
shown in FIG. 8. In the process, the sleeve protector is turned inside
out, with the absorbent paper layer on the inside and the water impervious
plastic layer on the outside.
When a task is completed, or when a protective sleeve becomes excessively
covered with wiped-off materials, the sleeves can be simply discarded.
Although a laminated sleeve material comprised of paper toweling and
thermoplastic film is ideal for most uses, it may be appropriate in some
cases to utilize single materials, such as the film alone or the paper
toweling alone, depending upon the service for which the device is
intended to be used.
The device of the invention is highly simplified, economical to
manufacture, easy to use and easy to dispose of. The materials can be
produced in continuous forms by joining of separate laminates 15, 16 in
face-to-face relation, along narrow, generally transverse strip-like
bonding areas, with lines of weakness being provided along the bonding
areas to accommodate separation of individual sections of protector sleeve
material at the time of use.
It should be understood, of course, that the specific forms of the
invention herein illustrated and described are intended to be
representative only, as certain changes may be made therein without
departing from the clear teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly,
reference should be made to the following appended claims in determining
the full scope of the invention.
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